A Mississippi Tradition

Every fall, my family and I trek to Oxford, Mississippi to watch the Ole Miss Rebels play football. Game day in Oxford becomes rather hectic as people pour into town from all over the South for both the tailgating in the Grove and the game in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Grove transforms for football games from a beautiful green park in the middle of campus with grass as soft as a blanket to a sea of bright red and royal blue tents that seem to extend across the horizon. During this event that is as social as it is sporting, men dress in their favorite button-down shirts and khakis, while women wear their best cocktail dresses of red, white and blue. Children dance about in spirited football jerseys and cheerleading skirts as they secretly swipe a sweet, sugary treat out from under the lacy tablecloth.
After a few hours of mingling in the Grove, everyone begins to stroll to the game. The band is marching in a precise formation, while playing the famous tune, “Dixie.” Cheerleaders and dancers stride in front while reciting the fight song. “Hotty Toddy!”, they yell as they gracefully go by. Fans following the band become antsy as the gates to the stadium are finally opened. People swarm through the gates like an enormous army of ants.
As I walk through a dark tunnel and approach the inside of the stadium, all I can see is an ocean of red pom-poms sweeping across the stadium like waves crashing down upon the sand. The fans are raging with excitement as the players race out onto the soft green field. The smell of freshly made popcorn lingers in the air and I immediately remember what it feels like to be back. Ole Miss will always serve as a home for me.